Mimi was off too, but out the back door, not the front. She stopped at the buffet on the way out taking an apple out of the fruit bowl.
“Surely, child, you can’t eat anything else.”
“No ma’am, it’s for King—I’m going out to see him.”
“King isn’t here, Mimi—he’s at the veterinarian’s.”
“What for? Is he sick?”
“Nothing at all. Dr. Kirby wants a friend to see him. Daddy will explain.”
“Dr. Kirby isn’t trying to sell King, is he, Mother?”
In the instant Mother hesitated, Mimi knew.
“That’s entirely up to you and Daddy.”
“Oh,” said Mimi going on out the door toward the stable. She had no word for Von who trotted at her heels, only a pat on the head. Together they stood before the empty stall; Mimi leaning against the rail, Von pressing against her knees. No proud head nuzzling against her shoulder, no welcoming neigh, no pawing. Daddy wouldn’t sell King without asking her; Mimi knew that, but King was a valuable horse and Daddy might need the money to go to Germany. He couldn’t take the horse with him. She couldn’t take him to Sheridan—or could she? Boarding horses out a whole winter was dreadfully expensive. They’d have to do something with King. Wrapped in her calculations and nibbling at the apple intended for her pet, she wandered back toward the house and upstairs to her room.